Men, women and slaves in tragedy

Maenads

Jocasta

Realises the prophecy has come true before Oedipus

Complete reversal of societal expectations

Men are usually seen as dominant and undermining of fate

Go out dancing in the mountains without male supervision

Monarchy and patriarchy

Oedipus

Pentheus

Tragic heroes

Fatal flaws with stubborness and hubris

Wear ivy and carry thyrsi to convery their roles as wild women

Would make up the chorus (rare to have an all female chorus)

Kills herself by hanging

Slaves and soldiers

Often messengers

Shepherd reveals that prophecy has come true ("You were born for pain")

Stereotypical way for women to die

Adds to tragedy - is described vividly

usually have the peripeteia happen to them

Doesn't have a fatal flaw, just a victim

Women are victimised and seen as passive to the Gods (like the men, but they do less to go against it)

Would usually be threatened by kings (brings out their hamartia and desparation)

"You need lashing more than he does" (Oedipus to Shepherd)

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Would take on traditional roles as men (eg, hunting, killing)

Soldiers are meant to spy on the maenads (Episode 3 of Bacchae)

keep conservative values but undemrmine the Gods in these

Mascilinity in maenads prevails instead of femininity

Messenger "fears swifteness of (Pentheus) moods"

Agave proclaims herself as "high priestess" while she has her sons head

Always male

Modern scholarship:

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